Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 21:2
Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
2. Repeated almost exactly from Pro 16:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. The Lord pondereth the hearts.] Every man feels strongly attached to his own opinions, modes of acting, c. and though he will not easily give up any thing to the judgment of a neighbour, whom he will naturally consider at least as fallible as himself, yet he should consider that the unerring eye of God is upon him; and he should endeavour to see that what he does is acceptable in the eye of his Maker and Judge.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This was said Pro 16:2, where it is explained, and is here repeated, either for the great importance and usefulness of it, or because he perceived that the Israelites were very prone to self-deceit.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. (Compare Pro 14:2;Pro 16:2-25).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes,…. This is repeated, from Pr 16:2; for the confirmation of it; and that it might be observed and taken notice of, and men be brought under a conviction of it; which is not easily done, it being what affects all men: every man is conceited of himself and his own way, and is not easily persuaded off of it; his sinful ways are agreeable to him promising him pleasure, profit, or honour; and his self-righteous ways suit with the vain opinion he has of himself, whereby he promises himself eternal life and happiness. The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it to this sense,
“every man seems righteous to himself;”
but the Lord pondereth the hearts: weighs them in the balance of righteousness and truth; considers them, having a perfect knowledge of them, and all the springs of action in them; and knows that every way of man is not right, though they may seem so to him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The next group extends from Pro 21:2 to Pro 21:8, where it closes as it began.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes;
But a weigher of hearts is Jahve.
A proverb similar to Pro 16:2 (where , for , for , for ). God is also, Pro 17:3, called a trier, , of hearts, as He is here called a weigher, . The proverb indirectly admonishes us of the duty of constant self-examination, according to the objective norm of the revealed will of God, and warns us against the self-complacency of the fool, of whom Pro 12:15 says (as Trimberg in “ Renner ”): “all fools live in the pleasant feeling that their life is the best,” and against the self-deception which walks in the way of death and dreams of walking in the way of life, Pro 14:12 (Pro 16:25).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Note, 1. We are all apt to be partial in judging of ourselves and our own actions, and to think too favourably of our own character, as if there was nothing amiss in it: Every way of a man, even his by-way, is right in his own eyes. The proud heart is very ingenious in putting a fair face upon a foul matter, and in making that appear right to itself which is far from being so, to stop the mouth of conscience. 2. We are sure that the judgment of God concerning us is according to truth. Whatever our judgment is concerning ourselves, the Lord ponders the heart. God looks at the heart, and judges of men according to that, of their actions according to their principles and intentions; and his judgment of that is as exact as ours is of that which we ponder most, and more so; he weighs it in an unerring balance, ch. xvi. 2.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
The Lord Knows
Verse 2 affirms that man is inclined to think that his ways are right though they are wrong; but the LORD judges motives and knows what is right, Pro 16:2; Pro 24:12; 1Sa 16:7; Jer 17:10; Luk 16:15
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(2) Every way of a man is right in his own eyes.See above, on Pro. 16:2.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Pondereth Weighs or proves.
The hearts Compare Pro 14:12; Pro 16:2; Pro 16:25. “The trier of hearts is Jehovah.” Conant.
v. 2. Every way of a man Is right in his own eyes, Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of everyone that is hasty only to want. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
Solomon hath set forth in these verses the striking contrast, between the possession and exercise of the graces of the Spirit, and the fruits and effects of the works of the flesh. I do not think it necessary to offer any comment upon either, under the teaching of the Holy Ghost their different origin, issue, and termination will be abundantly plain. The apostle Paul hath given also a striking view of both, in one and the same scripture. Gal 5:19-24 .
Pro 21:2 Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Ver. 2. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes. ] See Trapp on “ Pro 16:2 “ Such is our sinful self-love, that, Suffenus-like, we easily admire that little nothing of any good that is in us; we so clasp and hug the barn of our own brain, with the ape, that we strangle it; we set up a counter for a thousand pounds, and boast of those graces whereunto we are perfect strangers. We turn the perspective telescope, and gladly see ourselves larger, others smaller than they are: we flatter our own souls as Micah did his. Jdg 17:13 Wherein it often happens as it did with the riflers of Semiramis’ tomb, who, where they expected to find the richest treasure, met with a deadly poison. Seem we never so just, because first in our own cause, God – as Solomon saith of a man’s neighhour – comes and searches us, and then things appear otherwise. Luk 16:15
man. Hebrew. ‘ish. App-14.
pondereth = weigheth, and thus testeth. See all the occurrences of takan, to poise, 1Sa 2:3. 2Ki 12:11 (“told”). Job 28:25. Psa 75:3 (bear up). Pro 16:2; Pro 21:2 (pondereth); Pro 24:12 (pondereth). Isa 40:12 (meted), Isa 40:13 (directed). In Ezekiel the Niphal is rendered “equal”: Pro 18:25, Pro 18:29; Pro 18:33.
Pro 21:2
Pro 21:2
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts.”
See my comment on Pro 16:2 with which this couplet is almost identical.
Pro 21:2. This is very similar to Pro 16:2. Most people are too quick to claim credit (and are offended if they are not given it) and too slow to accept guilt. That God accurately weighs each person (beginning with the heart) See Pro 24:12; Luk 16:15; Dan 5:27.
right: Pro 16:2, Pro 16:25, Pro 20:6, Pro 30:12, Psa 36:2, Luk 18:11, Luk 18:12, Gal 6:3, Jam 1:22
the Lord: Pro 24:12, 1Sa 16:7, Jer 17:10, Luk 16:15, Joh 2:24, Joh 2:25, Rev 2:23
Reciprocal: Deu 12:8 – every man 1Ch 29:17 – triest the heart Mat 18:35 – from Mar 14:15 – he will 1Co 4:4 – yet 2Co 10:18 – not
Pro 21:2-3. Every way of a man, &c. See on Pro 16:2, where this same thing was declared. To do justice and judgment The conscientious performance of all our duties to men; is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice Than the most costly outward services offered to God, joined with the neglect of religious and moral duties to God or men: see 1Sa 15:22; Hos 6:6; Mic 6:7-8.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments